Welcome to Trakkit.org

Trakkit.org is the front-end for a track rendering engine for leisure and offshore sailing.

It lets you:

  • Create, view, and share navigation tracks.
  • Embed them into applications or websites.
  • Share tracks via a simple internet link.
  • Allow real-time tracking via automatic upload of NMEA, GPX, TEXT by email or SFTP.

Trakkit.org does not collect any personal data.

🚀 Quick Start

  1. Create an account (free)
  2. Create a boat (only the boat name is required)
  3. A set of sample data and a test track has been automatically created.
  4. Test the sample track by visiting: https://<boatname>.trakkit.org
  5. Upload your own data using a .GPX file: DATA > Upload
  6. Create a track: TRACK > Add Track to choose which part of the data you want to display
  7. A TTR ID is assigned, and the track can be shared at: https://trakkit.org/ttr/<TRACK-ID-TTR>

NB: The sample data set is automatically deleted as soon as you start uploading your own data.

📚 General Documentation

Everything in Trakkit.org revolves around three objects:

  • Boat
  • Data
  • Track

Data is linked to a boat. A track is a segment of data between two dates.

🔧 How does it work?

It’s essential to understand that in Trakkit, data is not tied to tracks. Data can be sent continuously. Tracks simply define date ranges within which the corresponding data is visible. Deleting a track does not affect the data. Data is only visible if a track is defined to make it visible. The same data can appear in multiple tracks.

  1. Send your GPS positions to spool@trakkit.org (e.g., via Iridium Go)
  2. Define a track with a start and end date
  3. Share the link: https://trakkit.org/ttr/<YOUR_TTR> (Replace <YOUR_TTR> with your track ID, available in your track list)
  4. Optionally, upload a full GPX or NMEA file after your trip

Note: Trakkit was originally designed for Iridium Go, but any device capable of sending GPS emails is supported.

Basic structure:

  • 1 user may have several boats
  • 1 boat belongs to 1 user only
  • 1 boat can have as many tracks as needed
  • Multiple tracks may use the same data

🛥️ Boat

Creating a boat is the first step required to import data and associate tracks.

⚙️ Sample Track and Data

When creating a boat for the first time: - A test track is automatically generated. - A set of sample data is associated with this track.

This allows you to quickly verify the boat’s parameters and visualization.
Note: This test track and its data will be automatically deleted upon the first import of real data.

📝 Available Fields

  • Name (required): Identifies the boat.
  • Maxspeed: Used to detect potential GPS point anomalies (e.g., unrealistic speeds).
  • Info: An optional, purely informational field.
  • Active livetrack: Enables real-time tracking with past track.
    A dedicated track must be created beforehand via the Track menu, then selected here. To be eligible for Live Track, the track must have an end date in the future (e.g., 1/1/2050).

  • Direct URL: A public web address providing direct access to the boat’s current position, and its livetrack if defined.

  • Email: Address from which the tracking emails will be sent. This can be overridden if a valid TAG is included in the subject of the email.

  • Noforeignland Email: If you have a NoForeignLand account, register this email address as your tracking sender email.
  • Tags: Tags are aliases for your boat. You can use them to send data, access the SFTP server, or create your own data sender. To send data through our SFTP server, create a Tag password (Boat > Tags & Mails > Edit Tag > Create Password).

📈 Data

Once a Boat has been created, you can feed Trakkit.org with data for this Boat.

Data is a collection of GPS points and optional sensor info (AWA, AWS, etc.) for a boat.

How to send DATA

One of the simplest ways is to go to DATA>UPLOAD and upload your .GPX tracks exported from a tablet or a GPS tracker. Most navigation apps support this.

For any automatic Data sending by companion app, email, sFTP, you must first create a Tag or associate an email with this Boat by going to BOAT > Mails & Tag

Some apps, like Navionics Boating, also allow you to share tracks by email. In that case, simply send the track from the app to spool@trakkit.org after linking your email to the boat in BOATS > Mails & Tags.

You can send Data in different ways at different times. At sea, you might use a device like Iridium Go to send a position every 5 minutes for live tracking. Once in port, you can upload all your saved NMEA data or simply email the full track from Navionics Boating.

So, Data:

  • May come from different sources
  • Can be manually uploaded on DATA>UPLOAD or sent to spool@trakkit.org
  • Can be automatically sent via email, companion app, or sFTP
  • You can associate multiple email addresses or Tags with a single boat.
  • An email address or Tag cannot be linked to more than one boat.
  • Tracks are a view of data (no strong link)
  • Deleting a track does not delete data

If you have an internet connection at sea, you can send data in real time. If not, simply save a .GPX file from your GPS or navigation system and upload it later when you’re back online. You can also save your full NMEA 0183 data stream and send it afterwards.

What is DATA?

DATA can take several forms:

  • A .gpx file generated by a GPS device or exported from apps like Navionics Boating
  • A file capturing NMEA 0183 traffic, recorded using apps like OpenCPN or QtVlm or a companion app.
  • Or refers to regular text containing GPS position information, such as those sent by email with devices like Iridium Go:

I am here Lat+28.851240 Lon-13.794377 Alt+009ft GPS Sats seen 10 2023-01-17 00:34UTC

  • Whatever upload method you choose, all Data can be compressed in: .zip .gzip .z .xz .7z .tar .tgz

or a line with this pattern: 

[±]Latitude (in decimal degrees) [±]Longitude (in decimal degrees) YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM[:SS[.sss]] [Timezone] [AWA:XXX] [AWS:XX.X] [COG:XXX] [SOG:XX.X] ...

Date, time, and timezone can be combined into a single ISO format: 2025-11-10T14:26:05Z

Acceptable text format exemple:

-38.1052 -12.277 20210210 102345                                # UTC implicit
46.238 -0.5687 2021-02-10 10:23:45 UTC
-38.1052 -12.277 20210210 102345 UTC+2                          # If for some reason your nav system isn't in UTC
46.238 -0.5687 2021-02-10 10:23:45 UTC COG:125 SOG:9.2
-38.1052 -12.277 2021-02-10T10:23:45Z                           # ISO format UTC
46.238 -0.5687 2021-02-10T10:23:45+02:00 AWA:120 AWS:23.5       # ISO format UTC+2

multiples lines are allowed in text message or file attach.

📤Direct DATA upload to Trakkit.org

One of the simplest ways is to go to DATA>UPLOAD and upload your track files exported from a tablet or a GPS tracker. Most navigation apps support this.

✉️ Emailing DATA:

emails have to be sent to spool@trakkit.org

You must either include a TAG in the subject of your email, or link your email address to your boat on Trakkit.org. Note that linking an email address is not recommended. This feature is only maintained for compatibility with Iridium GO! systems.

Assignment Rules:

  • If the sender's email is linked to a BOAT on Trakkit.org, the DATA will be assigned to that boat.
  • If a TAG alias is specified in the Subject line of the email, the DATA will be assigned to the boat associated with that TAG.
  • In case of conflicting information, the Tag over the email.
  • You can send the data as a file attachment or write it in the message body

Accepted Formats:

  • DATA can be included as:
  • Attachments (recommended)
  • Plain text in the body of the email
  • Compressed or archived files are accepted: Z, ZIP, 7z, GZIP, TAR

📡 SFTP Server for Data Uploads

You can send your files to Trakkit SFTP server, which is the recommended method for automated data transfers and larger files.

Credentials & server address are provided when you request a tag password on Trakkit: BOATS > Mails & Tags > Create Tag Password

Accepted file formats: - Data files: .gpx, .nmea, .txt - Compressed archives: .tar, .zip, .z, .xz, .7z, .gz

Restrictions (fair use policy): - Maximum upload frequency: 1 file every 3 minutes - Maximum file size: 30 MB per upload

Failure to follow these recommendations may result in restrictions on upload access, or even a permanent ban from Trakkit.

Uploaded files must follow this format:

TAG_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.data

Note: TAG must match the one used for the connection.

➡️ It is strongly recommended to first upload the file with the extension .part and then rename it to .data once the transfer is complete.

This ensures the file will not be processed before the upload is fully finished.

🗑️ Deleting Data

Deleting a track does not delete the data.

To delete data:

  • Use the Data > Delete menu
  • Delete by date range or BatchID
  • Every upload has a BatchID; removing a batch only deletes that data chunk

🏷️ Tags

Tags are alternative aliases used to identify a boat. A tag’s main purpose is to grant access to a specific group of people. Deleting a tag will remove access for that group, but anyone using a different tag will still have access.

Typically, you create a separate tag for each system that feeds data to the boat. Boat > Mails & Tag > Add Tag If access to a system becomes corrupted or unavailable, simply delete the associated tag.

To feed data via companion devices or use the SFTP server, you need to create a tag with a password:
Boat > Mails & Tag > Edit > Create Password

⚠️ Make sure to remember this password, as it cannot be recovered.
If it is lost, you will need to create a new one.

  • You can create as many tags as you like for a given boat.
  • Tags can be shared with groups or individuals to grant access.
  • A tag can be deleted at any time.
  • Tags can be used to send data by email from any email address, by simply putting the tag in the subject line. In this case, do not share the tag with anyone.
  • Tags with passwords can be used to access the SFTP server, with the Tag serving as the username.

🗺️ TRACKS:

Unlike other navigation systems, a Track in Trakkit is simply a named slice of time within a set of Data.

You define the start and end times and give it a name.

Trakkit will check if any corresponding Data is available for that interval and display it if so.

If no data is available, nothing will be shown. Later, if Data matching the track’s interval is uploaded, the Track will be automatically updated.

A Track can also be manually updated via TRACK > Regen.

  • BoatName: The boat to which the track should be associated.
  • TrackName: Displayed name of the track.
  • Color: Choose a color or choose Random color for each update of the Track.
  • Default Layer: The map foreground layer to use. The default is OSM SRTM Topographic. Note that tile availability may vary, especially for those provided by U.S. agencies (NASA, NOAA, etc.), due to funding restrictions affecting these services in the United States.
  • WPO: Interval in minutes for the progress points (the orange points).
  • WPP: Interval in seconds for the track points (Track precision).Warning: setting too high a precision can slow down track loading and visualization. Use common sense and adjust the precision based on the type of track: “10 for regattas, 60 for coastal navigation, 300 for offshore navigation” are good guidelines
  • Published: Check this if you want to list the track in the "TRACK LIST" visible on your boat page at https://boatname.trakkit.org
  • Reminder: Deleting a track does not delete the data.

We strongly advise you to set the start and end date/time of your track so that your exact departure and arrival points are not permanently displayed

Visualizing a Track

  • Direct link: https://trakkit.org/ttr/<TRACK-ID>
  • From the home page with the TRACK-ID
  • Tracks are rendered statically and only automatically refreshed when new data is imported
  • Can be manually regenerated (TRACK > Regen)

You can integrate a responsive link into your own page or website by using the direct URL provided in your boat section:

    <div class="iframe-container">
      <iframe src="https://trakkit.org/ttr/<TRACK-ID>"
              title="My Track on Trakkit"></iframe>
    </div>

Visualizing Real-Time Tracking

In Boat > Edit > Direct URL, choose a URL for your boat (usually the boat name).

You can view your boat’s position directly at:
https://boatname.trakkit.org

Where boatname is the name given in Direct URL.

If you have enabled a track for real-time tracking in Boat > Edit > Active LiveTrack, the boat’s track will also be displayed.

The default live tracking page displays nav info and buttons giving access to the Live Weather Map, the Track List (for tracks flagged as Public), and the Full Screen view.

You will probably prefer using a full-screen view without the data panel inside the frames embedded in your own website or web pages. You can open a full-screen view directly using the following URL: https://trakkit.org/live/simple/boatname

You can embed the live tracking view (or any other track) directly in an iframe on your own website or personal page.
For example, to embed https://boatname.trakkit.org, use the following HTML:

<iframe
    src="https://boatname.trakkit.org"
    width="100%"
    height="600"
    style="border:0;"
    allowfullscreen>
</iframe>

💻 Companion App

A companion app is a third-party application that collects and sends data to Trakkit.

The Python base code of "JoliCompanion," Trakkit's standard companion, is freely available and can be adapted to your setup. It can be downloaded from About > Download Tools

An SFTP tag with a password is required for sending data.

It can be developed by you or any other party.

This is the preferred solution for real-time tracking.